Vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel versus tablet in the induction of labour at term--a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Our aim in this retrospective analysis was to compare labour outcomes between 145 consecutive women with unfavourable cervices, who received prostaglandin E2 vaginal gel (1-2 mg) for labour induction over a 3-month period, and 149 women receiving a prostaglandin E2 vaginal tablet (3 mg) over the following 3 months. Our results showed that cervical dilatation in the gel group was significantly more than in the tablet group at transfer to labour ward [4 cm (SD 2.5 cm) versus 3.3 cm (SD 2 cm), mean difference -0.7, 95% CI -1.2 to -0.2, P=0.01), with fewer women requiring oxytocin augmentation, but this was not statistically significant (41.4% versus 50%, RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.1). There were no significant differences in the mode of delivery in the number delivering vaginally within 24 hours of the induction (60.4% in the gel group versus 56.2% in the tablet group, RR1.1, 95% CI 0.9-1.4), in the number of doses of PGE2 administered, or in the neonatal outcomes between the two groups. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in labour or neonatal outcomes between prostaglandin E2 gel or tablet use in the induction of labour in this retrospective analysis.